Lai Choi San: c. 1900-?
Lai Choi San pirated the waters around Macau, a costal region of China located about 50 miles west of Hong Kong. She was one of the most respected and feared Asian pirates in the early twentieth century. Although her way of life is similar to that of other female pirates, there are two marked differences in Lai Choi San's case: She was born into piracy and she wasn't really a criminal.
While pirates such as Mary Read and Anne Bonny turned to piracy for lack of another career, Lai Choi San was a legacy. Her first seven ships were inherited from her father, who was killed pirating the same seas. With this substantial foundation, she managed to increase the size of her fleet to twelve ships by approximately 1930. Perhaps her father foresaw her great success when he named her Lai Choi San, meaning "mountain of wealth."
The second quality that sets Lai Choi San apart is that unlike most other pirates, she was not considered a criminal. San and her fleet were in the protection business and she was actually given the title "inspector" by the local government. Macau, which was built on the strength of its fishing trade, was intent on protecting its fishermen. Gangs would often hijack fishing boats and hold their crew for ransom. To put an end to this problem, Macau sanctioned Lai Choi San to protect the waters.
Lai Choi San led her fleet in the waters around Macau collecting tribute from local fishermen. Those who paid were protected from rival pirates in the area. Those who refused to pay soon found themselves being held for ransom with their boat on the ocean floor. Although this behavior is undoubtedly coercive and harsh, compared to the standards of the area and the time, it was mild treatment. San was certainly respected and feared, but was considered morally superior to other pirates and had the approval of the local government.
More Female Pirates
Anne Bonny
Mary Read
Grace O'Malley
Sources Used
Robert C. Ritchie. "Pirate." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. World Book, Inc. 1 Mar. 2006.
Aleko E. Lilius. "I Sailed With Chinese Pirates." 1 Mar. 2006.
"China: Macao." 2002 The Maritime Heritage Projects. 1 Mar. 2006. http://www.maritimeheritage.org 
